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Michael is a biology graduate of the UMaine system. He likes to spend his free time hiking and defending science, though not usually at the same time. Contrary to popular (but not scientific) belief, the positive and appropriate perception of science is undermined by religion, alternative medicine, the U.S. education system, and most science journalists.

The Supreme Court will decide whether a teacher at a church-run school is a religious or secular worker when it comes to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The high court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal from Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School of Redford, Mich.

Cheryl Perich, a teacher and commissioned minister, got sick in 2004 but tried to return to work from disability leave despite being diagnosed with narcolepsy. She taught third and fourth graders

The school said she couldn’t return because they had hired a substitute for that year. They fired her after she showed up anyway and threatened to sue to get her job back.

Here we have yet another example of unearned and undeserved respect being demanded by a religious group. Perich was a teacher, not a priest or Rabbi or any other sort of religious leader. Her job was secular and she functioned within it in a purely secular way. To act as though she loses her rights because religion is involved is absurd.

We can be sure Scalia and Thomas will be ready to side with the religious group, ignoring everything to do with the law as usual, but I don’t see how the school as a leg to stand on.